Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Mail-order bride Eliza
Cantrell is on her way to meet her intended groom and help him grow his
general store business when her train is held up by robbers and she
loses her dowry. She's further thwarted upon arriving in Salt Flatts
only to find Axel, her groom, away on business. Hoping a wife would
push Axel to become a better business partner, William Stanton had
encouraged him to seek a mail-order bride. With Axel gone, Will feels
responsible for Eliza, so he finds her a place to stay and lets her help
in the store. Working together isn't what they'd expected, and when
Axel is further delayed, neither can ignore the sparks that fly. But
Eliza is meant for Axel and is set on a future with the store, while
Will is biding time until he can afford medical school. Their
troubles are far from over when Axel returns to town, however, and soon
both Will and Eliza must decide what they're willing to sacrifice to
chase their dreams--or if God has a new dream in store for them both.

My Review

I was so excited to read this book, but it turned out to be somewhat different than I expected. I love mail-order bride stories since it's a fascinating situation for two strangers to enter into. In this case, the delay of Eliza meeting her intended groom allows for her to get to know Will, his business partner. It takes a while for the chemistry to build between Will and Eliza and since they each are focused so much on the store and saving the business I felt like romance just wasn't a priority for them. Not to mention that Eliza is committed to marrying Axel and Will doesn't consider sharing the considerable flaws of his shady and absent business partner. I didn't fully buy into Will's hangups preventing him from pursuing his dream- there was just too much waffling and he came across as a weak character. There are some interesting historical details involving the general store that I enjoyed learning about.

(Thank you to Bethany House Publishers for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Chalice Stratford's
hands won’t stop shaking, and not only is she required to give up her
medical practice, but she’s forced to enter the witness protection
program since the serial killer who brutally scarred her is still at
large. Working in a museum in Bordeaux, France, the last thing she
expects is to be abducted in a museum theft gone wrong. Omar Zagouri,
the man behind the heist, is not who she expects, and Chalice soon
learns he might be the one man who can put her demons to rest.

My Review

Wow. This short story sure packed a punch! It was intense, fast-paced, action-packed, and still introduced the characters in a way that made them easy to visualize and care about. While Chalice's past is somewhat mysterious, there is enough back story shared for the reader to understand how traumatized she still is. I feel like this would be an amazing first chapter and I want to read the rest of the story! I'm definitely going to be reading the other books the author writes in the Omar Zagouri series- as of now Finding Sheba (a full-length novel) is available.

(Thank you to Ebooks For Review for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Saturday, December 27, 2014

What if the only way you could make your father’s last wish come true . . . was to marry the man of your dreams?

Emma Tate has just moved on from
one fiancé, so when she announces a sudden engagement to her lifelong
buddy Jake Sawyer, every busybody in Mayfair goes into high alert. Of
course, no one but Jake and Emma know the real reason they’re getting
married—so Emma’s dying father will have a chance to walk her down the
aisle.

But while Jake and Emma move
forward with their plan—and frantically plan an October wedding—it
becomes clear that their agreement has a few complications . . . the
biggest being their true feelings for each other.

With dubious friends, deliriously
thrilled parents, and a town that won’t keep its nose out of their
business, Emma and Jake will have a lot to contend with if they’re going
to pull this off. The real question is: Who wants this wedding more,
Emma’s dad . . . or Emma?

My Review

LOVED it! This novella is well-written, the main characters have amazing chemistry and romantic tension, and the heart-breaking storyline of a dying father is one that always gets me since I can relate to it all too well. It was so enjoyable to see Emma and Jake realize their feelings for each other and the ending is just perfect... definitely my favorite from the Year of Weddings collection!

(Thank you to Zondervan Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Annie's always wanted a home and a family. But will pretending to be a bride get her closer to her dreams?All
Annie Price has ever wanted is a place to call home. Growing up in the
foster care system, that dream seemed far away, but now Annie's dream
may be coming true. A friend she met in an online book group wants to
retire and has offered Annie a fresh start managing her little
bookstore. Believing the opportunity is an answer to prayer, Annie packs
her suitcase and moves to Red Leaf, Wisconsin.The residents of Red
Leaf welcome Annie into the fold . . . everyone except the bookstore
owner's son, Jesse Kent. But Annie refuses to let the handsome deputy
keep her from embracing her new home with open arms. She even volunteers
to help the local historical society refurbish an old church and agrees
to be the 'bride' for a special reenactment celebrating the museum's
open house.

Jesse Kent can't believe his mother has handed the keys
to her business over to a woman she met on the Internet. Annie's
beautiful, of course, and smart as a whip, but what do they really know
about her, anyway? What if she's come to their town just for his
mother's money? The only way to see if his suspicions about Annie Price
are true is to keep a close eye on her---even if it means he has to
marry her! Planning their mock wedding will give him the chance to
uncover Annie's motive for moving to town. But as the day of the wedding
approaches and secrets come to light, Jesse must face the truth. He
wants Annie to be his September bride . . . for real.

My Review

What a sweet falling-in-love story set in a quaint small town. Annie and Jesse may not have started off on the right foot, but they quickly see the good in each other and with the help of some well-meaning townspeople, find themselves in situations perfect for a little romance. My favorite scenes were hunting for vintage treasures in Ms. Viv's attic and Annie dressing up to read to the children in the bookstore. There is even a mystery towards the end that has to get solved before the wedding if Annie is going to feel welcome in Red Leaf, and it's heroic how Jesse comes to her defense.

(Thank you to Zondervan Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Can she forgive the man who left her at the altar?Alyssa
Pennington dated Brendan Myers for three years before she accepted his
proposal. For almost a year, Alyssa's friends and family helped her plan
a lovely wedding to take place in the church she'd grown up in. It was
the happiest day of her life when she walked down the aisle to be united
with the man of her dreams. But when Brendan left her at the altar,
Alyssa was consumed by humiliation, embarrassment, and a broken heart
that wouldn't allow her to trust anyone. Especially Brendan.

Brendan
Myers knows he will spend the rest of his life regretting what he did to
Alyssa, the only woman he's ever loved. Without her, his life is empty.
In one fateful moment, he'd panicked, destroyed their future, and
ruined everything. Now he plans to win her back.But winning back his
bride might prove much more difficult than he can imagine. And even if
he does get her to the altar again, will she think turnabout is fair
play?

My Review

This novella is well-written, but since the story takes place during the aftermath of the ruined wedding and recovery of Alyssa's heartbreak, there is a lot of angst and not much romance. We do eventually learn why Brendan panicked, but since Alyssa refuses to hear him out for so long I was left wondering for much of the time what his deal was. I would have been happier with more happiness in the story :)

(Thank you to Zondervan Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

In the shadow of the
nation's capital, Kate Livingston holds a respectable position as a
government statistician when she encounters a rival from her past, the
insufferable Trevor McDonough. A Harvard-trained physician, Trevor never
showed the tiniest flicker of interest in Kate, and she's bewildered at
the way he suddenly seeks her out. Surprising even herself, Kate agrees
to Trevor's entirely unexpected and risky proposal to work side-by-side
with him in his quest to rid the world of tuberculosis, a contagious
and deadly disease.

As Kate begins to unlock the mysteries of
Trevor's past, she realizes there is much more to him than she could
have imagined. His hidden depths may fascinate her, but his most closely
guarded secrets and a shadowy enemy lurking in the background carry a
serious threat to their future.

When the truth of the past comes
out, threatening to destroy everything they hold dear, how will Trevor
and Kate ever overcome all that stands in their way?

My Review

I was surprised by how intense this book is! The main characters are both strong and flawed in different ways, so it was very interesting to read their interactions as they worked toward a common goal. Their personalities and pasts are revealed layer by layer- I was riveted by several facets of the story. A great historical novel!

(Thank you to Bethany House Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

After years of pinching
pennies and struggling to get through art school, Emma Makie’s hard work
finally pays off with the offer of a dream job. But when tragedy
strikes, she has no choice but to make a cross-country move to Colorado
Springs to take temporary custody of her two nieces. She has no money,
no job prospects, and no idea how to be a mother to two little girls,
but she isn’t about to let that stop her. Nor is she about to accept the
help of Kevin Grantham, her handsome neighbor, who seems to think she’s
incapable of doing anything on her own.

Prejudice Meets Pride
is the story of a guy who thinks he has it all figured out and a girl
who isn't afraid to show him that he doesn't. It’s about learning what
it means to trust, figuring out how to give and to take, and realizing
that not everyone gets to pick the person they fall in love with.
Sometimes, love picks them.

My Review

I really connected to the characters in this book since they are so genuine in their feelings and expressing them to each other. There is some humor in the first impressions they form which are not the best, but become inexplicably drawn to each other. It was interesting to see the transition from foe to friendship. Even though the title implies that it's a contemporary Austen adaptation, it doesn't follow the original plot lines closely at all- in fact, the only similarity I felt was that the main characters start off with too much prejudice and pride, which they learn to overcome as they see beneath the surface of each others personalities and stretch beyond the comfort zone. Emma's sacrifice for her brother and nieces is the heart of this novel and brought some tears during the emotional parts. There is definitely chemistry between Kevin and Emma and I enjoyed their banter and conversations.

(Thank you to Ebooks For Review for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Chet and Kimberly have both failed when it comes to love. Will they risk their hearts to love again?

Chet
Leonard's life was forever changed when his seventeen year old son died
and then, soon after, his wife walked out on their family. Over two
years later, all he wants to do is hold onto his horse ranch and raise
his remaining sons to be honorable men.

Kimberly Welch, widowed
mother of Tara, a rebellious fifteen-year-old, has reached the end of
her finances and nearly the end of her rope. She and Tara come to King's
Meadow to try to piece their lives back together again. Kimberly has no
intention of become involved with the residents of this remote mountain
community and certainly not with any man.

When 84-year-old Anna
McKenna returns to King's Meadow and to the Leonard ranch, she becomes
an agent of change and healing for the two hurting families. With her
help, Kimberly and Chet's families at last discover a love without end.

My Review

The pace of this book is as leisurely as the stroll depicted on the cover. It really gave me time to get a feel for each of the characters as well as the setting. I totally appreciated that the romance between Chet and Kimberly was not of the whirlwind variety. The progress of their friendship and relationship was also slow-moving, interspersed with flashbacks from pivotal moments in Anna's life. Both Kimberly and Chet have issues to work through along the way, and with Anna providing profound insights and some teenage kids to liven things up, this is an enjoyable book to read. My favorite quote from Anna is "God doesn't need me to pretend, and He isn't afraid of my questions. You go right on and pour out your feelings to Him. Don't hold back. He'll listen, and then He'll comfort. You see if He doesn't."

(Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishing and Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Download this amazing book for only 99 cents at Amazon! Read my 5 star review of So Fair a Lady by Amber Perry here.

Synopsis

Boston, MA 1773: Shards
of Eliza Campbell's life crash to the ground when she discovers a
devastating secret: her father was a spy for the Sons of Liberty.
Determined to uncover the truth--at any cost--not even a marriage
proposal from the dashing British Officer Samuel Martin can dissuade
her. When rescued from British capture by handsome patriot Thomas
Watson, Eliza discovers what her father risked his life for and yearns
to know more. But will her budding attraction to this courageous patriot
damage her already wounded heart?

After years of being
blackmailed by Officer Martin, Thomas plans to start a new life in the
small town of Sandwich. However, when his actions place Eliza and her
sister in danger, he must act quickly to protect them from falling into
enemy hands. If the three of them are discovered, their lives will never
be the same. Now, not only must he protect Eliza, he must protect his
heart from a love that is sure to wound him far greater than any British
soldier ever could.

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

I have a friend who raves about how amazing Tamara Leigh's Age of Faith series is, and the first book The Unveiling is FREE! Not sure how long this sale will last so download it now! I'm really looking forward to starting this series!

Synopsis

12th century
England: Two men vie for the throne: King Stephen the usurper and young
Duke Henry the rightful heir. Amid civil and private wars, alliances are
formed, loyalties are betrayed, families are divided, and marriages are
made.For four years, Lady Annyn Bretanne has trained at
arms with one end in mind—to avenge her brother’s murder as God has not
deemed it worthy to do. Disguised as a squire, she sets off to exact
revenge on a man known only by his surname, Wulfrith. But when she holds
his fate in her hands, her will wavers and her heart whispers that her
enemy may not be an enemy after all.

Baron Wulfrith, renowned
trainer of knights, allows no women within his walls for the distraction
they breed. What he never expects is that the impetuous young man sent
to train under him is a woman who seeks his death—nor that her unveiling
will test his faith and distract the warrior from his purpose.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

When
Amelia Wagner takes over the running of her father's newspaper in
Granite Springs, Arizona, she vows to carry on the paper's commitment to
reporting only the truth. But Amelia soon learns that even the truth
can have consequences. Her father's revealing articles about Great
Western Investment Company's business methods have caught the notice
of the wrong person, and pressure mounts for Amelia to retract her
father's statements.

Determined to find the truth, Amelia goes
through her father's notes and begins to interview members of the
community. She can't seem to shake Benjamin Stone, a Great Western
employee who's been assigned to keep tabs on her for the good of the
company.

The more Ben and Amelia learn, the more Amelia's father's
claims appear to be accurate. In fact, it's probably worse than he
realized. Even Ben is beginning to wonder if he's become a pawn in the
workings of a corrupt empire. But Great Western isn't about to stand for
a female reporter and one of their own men bringing down their
lucrative schemes. Working against time, and never knowing what danger
lurks around the next corner, Ben and Amelia set out to reveal all
they've discovered before Great Western silences them for good.

What happens when an idealistic student
nurse encounters an embittered army doctor in a stagecoach accident? How
will she react when she learns her training didn’t prepare her for
tragic reality? How will he, an army deserter, respond to needs when he
vowed to never touch another patient? Can these two stubborn mules find
common ground on which to work and bring healing to West Texas?

Ride into the Rockies where love peaks
between a tough Texas tomboy and a passionate artist. On her way to
Montana, Sally McClellan’s party is attacked and robbed. But then artist
Logan McKenzie saves the badly wounded cowgirl who has been left for
dead. Can this landscape painter tame the tomboy without breaking her
spirit? Sally doesn’t know much about ribbons and lace, but Logan’s
presence makes her want to connect with her feminine side. Will this
fractured female discover a way to capture the artist’s love—or find
herself captured and killed by outlaws?

Aim for hours of reading pleasure with
award-winning author Mary Connealy’s last book in the Sophie’s Daughters
series. Mandy Gray, a wealthy sharpshooting widow, is content living in
her mountain home and raising her young-uns alone. But how long can she
protect herself when thieving outlaws have her surrounded? Rancher Tom
Linscott can’t bear to see a defenseless woman in danger. Yet his rescue
efforts end up bringing trouble right to her door. Now that they’re
both trapped on Mandy’s Mountain, can they learn to live together—or
will they die alone?

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